But Prime Minister Stephen Harper said it’s worth remembering that Canada has a stronger, stricter gun control system than exists in the United States, even without the long-gun registry.

We will not change the basis of this system

“We will not change the basis of this system. Actually, we have reinforced certain parts,” he said.

The changes kill a set of rules introduced by the Liberals in 1998 but never brought into force after years of consultations and deferrals.

The regulations would have required the sponsor of a gun show to notify local police and the chief firearms officer of the province before an event was held, and to ensure the security and safety of the location and the firearms.

The government says it consulted Public Safety Minister Vic Toews’ Canadian Firearms Advisory Committee, which felt that gun owners already abided by a set of existing rules.

Harper says he couldn’t bear to keep watching the news coverage over the weekend of the tragic school shooting in Connecticut.

In an interview with French broadcaster TVA, Harper calls the deaths a “great tragedy” that’s almost impossible for anyone — notably anyone with children of their own — to comprehend.

“It’s very sad. As a father, it’s very difficult to watch these images of children who were killed,” Harper said.

“Over the weekend, I stopped watching that. It’s almost impossible to imagine how someone could do something like that to children. It’s a great tragedy, and we’re using the opportunity to remind our children of our love.”

The decision was posted Wednesday in the Canada Gazette, but did not appear on Public Safety Canada’s website. It notes that MPs and senators were given 30 days to request changes to the repeal, but neither chamber did.

“Canada has a strong gun control system and we will not weaken these protections,” said Julie Carmichael, a spokeswoman for Public Safety Minister Vic Toews.

“The purchase, transport and storage of firearms continues to be strictly controlled in Canada and these strict rules apply to gun shows. Our government has taken concrete action to strengthen our laws and to stop violent crime and illegal firearms.”

But earlier this month, Prime Minister Stephen Harper candidly rejected some of the committee’s recommendations to loosen other gun laws.

The Coalition for Gun Control has criticized the advisory committee for being stacked with gun enthusiasts, including firearms dealers and representatives of the Canadian Sport Shooting Association. The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police has been unable to get on the committee, despite requests.

Committee member Greg Farrant, of the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, says under the Liberals the same group was stacked in the other direction — with gun opponents.

There’s not always unanimity

He says that two police officers among the current group provide balance and valuable front-line viewpoints.

“There’s not always unanimity on the committee,” Farrant notes.

“There are varying degrees of support for certain measures. There are things that are discussed by the committee and put forward to the government for consideration.”

Chief firearms officers in the provinces had told the government they wanted the regulations to come into force, particularly in light of the fact the gun registry was being shut down.

The registry made it necessary for long-gun transactions to be cleared first — the registrar had to verify the licence of the purchaser and then issue a new registration in that person’s name.

Ontario’s chief firearms officer, Chris Wyatt, said there is now no official way to ensure sellers are verifying licences, and nothing on the books that requires a gun-show sponsor to tell police an event is being held.

Gun shows are a major source of illegal firearms in the United States

The Conservative government abandoned the Long-gun registry earlier this year on the grounds it was a costly and ineffective affront to law-abiding gun owners.

Harper said Canada continues to require gun licences and that handguns and restricted weapons be registered.

“We will keep this system that works. That’s the important thing, to have controls that work,” he said.

Wyatt says there are genuine concerns about theft and illegal sales at gun shows.

“Gun shows are a major source of illegal firearms in the United States, and that could happen here. That’s why we thought there should be greater regulation of gun shows now that the registry is gone,” said Wyatt.

“Some of these gun shows, they have hundreds of vendors and thousands of firearms. It might be an attractive target for criminals to steal firearms or acquire firearms. With long guns, the standard is now very low for accountability.”

The National Firearms Federation hailed the decision Wednesday.

“In short, the Conservative government recognized that the gun-show regulations were an unnecessary part of an ideological liberal agenda to gradually eliminate firearms ownership and cleared out this ill-intentioned piece of legislation for which there was no justifiable need,” said Sheldon Clare, president of the federation.